Have you ever heard the saying “if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything”? There’s a very good application to consider on the topic of religious pluralism.
Some would say that Christians are arrogant, narrow-minded, bigoted, myopic…etc. for insisting that Jesus is THE way, THE truth, and THE life…something that of course He said about Himself. (John 14:6)
Based on the raw, unfiltered and a-contextual definitions of those terms, they may be right. Funny thing is—so are we. The problem with being concerned about our exclusivism is that it’s not a problem. When you do have the truth—don’t be ashamed to say so.
It’s not a matter of denigrating an unbeliever as a person because they believe differently than you do; it’s the importance of unashamedly admitting that you believe there is only one way to know the Creator—The God of the universe revealed to us in His Son.
The Truth is simply what it is. We shouldn’t make apologies for believing in it because if we didn’t believe it was the (absolute) Truth, what would be the point? Ultimately, the question we should be asking religious pluralists is what they do believe in. Without having a conviction or taking a stand on something, they are on shaky ground. Is it logical to think that there are multiple spiritual truths when fundamentally those very systems are in conflict at the core of their principles?
Can one discuss an opposing position without a starting point to begin with? From that perspective, criticisms of Christianity that originate because we believe in absolute truth are ungrounded. Simply put—everyone can’t be right when the very issues that divide various perspectives are at odds with one another.
Ultimately the barriers are spiritual—not intellectual. (2 Cor. 4:4) The Truth requires accountability. By rejecting it, the unbeliever can sway and bend without concern for direction until they eventually fall. We should encourage them to stand for something–Jesus!
Let’s face it. Whether it concerns politics, religion, or almost any other topic, our culture frowns upon those who state that their way is the only way. Such claims are viewed as arrogant, self-serving, and narrow-minded.
To some degree, I concur with that assessment. I cringe when I hear political commentators who boast that their opinions are superior to all others. They claim that anyone taking a different view is either uneducated, uninformed, or unintelligent. The mere tone of their words is enough to make me change the station or navigate to another website.
Christians can fall into the same trap. While it is important that we present Christ as “the only way,” we need to constantly keep our tone and attitude in check. When talking with non-Christians, “how” we say it is just as important as “what” we say. I am not saying that a loving tone takes precedence over truth, but it is just as important and often forgotten. A superior attitude can immediately put the brakes on a conversation about Christ.
The apostle Paul put it best when he said, “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2.
One of the best ways to keep myself in check when discussing the exclusive claims of Christ and Christianity is to constantly evaluate my motivation. If my motivation is to win the argument or put someone “in their place,” I am in the wrong. If my motivation is more about my good over and above the good of the person to whom I am speaking, I am in the wrong. I not only try to monitor this during the conversation, but I evaluate it after the fact. Several times I have had to apologize to a non-believer because I realized after the fact that my motivation in the discussion was selfish. The motivation of being perceived as “being right” can get in the way of my love for someone else.
Knowing my motivation is love, wanting the best for the other person, I then can proceed with answering their questions and statements about the exclusive claims of Christianity. I always try to direct the conversation to the claims of Christ as found in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” That way I let them know that my belief is rooted in the claims of Christ, not in my desire for my opinions to be “superior” over others.
Basing the discussion on the words of Christ Himself allows us to talk about “why” He said that He is the only way. He is the only way because He is the only one leader of a major religion to have risen from the dead. He is the only way because He truly is the only solution to our sin problem through His work on the cross. And, most importantly, be sure to share your personal reasons why you believe He is the only way. People don’t just want to hear “textbook” answers, but real testimonies of Christ’s impact on your life.
Pluralism is doing quite well while Christianity seems to be feeling a little ill.
A couple of weeks ago I touched on the spread of mainstream populist tolerance for Islamic law and the potential effects on Christianity in the public forum. Evidence of the complete breakdown of orthodox Christian doctrine in American life is, of course, everywhere. However, it is interesting to note that even within the ranks of those who would state that they believe Jesus’ claim to be The Way, The Truth, and The Life, many also believe that Christ does not have a monopoly on the concept.
In a recent survey of 35,000 adults, a full 57% of “evangelical church attenders” believe that the teaching of other religions can also lead to eternal life. It’s important to avoid a clever play on words—implying that yes, although everyone has eternal life we won’t all be enjoying it—because I don’t think that’s what they had in mind.
The following percentages may not be as surprising, but are nevertheless of concern:
“Nearly across the board, the majority of religious Americans believe many religions can lead to eternal life: mainline Protestants (83 percent), members of historic black Protestant churches (59 percent), Roman Catholics (79 percent), Jews (82 percent) and Muslims (56 percent).”
It is interesting to note that the smallest percentage belongs to the Muslim group—once again; the commitment to their religion should make us look inward.
Furthermore, and perhaps even more interesting,“Another finding almost defies explanation: 21 percent of self-identified atheists said they believe in God or a universal spirit, with 8 percent “absolutely certain” of it.”
WOW—isn’t that telling? So do not give up on those atheist friends of yours—most of their talk is defensiveness and insecurity anyway.
“The survey shows religion in America is, indeed, 3,000 miles wide and only three inches deep,” said D. Michael Lindsay, a Rice University sociologist of religion. “There’s a growing pluralistic impulse toward tolerance and that is having theological consequences,” he said.
The consequence, or perhaps the cause, is that Americans jump from one belief to another. There is a lack of commitment to their faith and an avoidance of the deep waters of theology where one can truly grow roots and therefore grow strong in their convictions. Without convictions, no one stands on principals—when it comes to anything. Therefore, they are easily swayed—the first clever orator to come along captures their attention, and soon their lives.
Denver Roman Catholic Archbishop Charles Chaput offered a quote which I believe applies to all in the Christian faith:
“Being Catholic means believing what the Catholic church teaches. It is a communion of faith, not simply of ancestry and family tradition. It also means that the church ought to work harder at evangelizing its own members.”
We should all work harder at evangelizing our own members—an often overlooked field ready for the harvest and sometimes desperate to be fed the truth—as painful and exclusionary as it may be. That Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The Life and NO ONE can go to the Father except through the Son.
-AJ Rinaldi
